If you’re looking for a budget-friendly family dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor, this black beans and rice recipe is a wonderful place to start. It’s loaded with fresh vegetables, fragrant seasonings, and hearty black beans—and the Deluxe Multi-Cooker handles the rice while you focus on the rest of the meal.

The secret is a homemade sofrito: a finely chopped mixture of garlic, cilantro, green onion, bell pepper, and onion. It creates a deeply flavorful base that transforms everyday rice and beans into something special.

Here’s the recipe

Ingredients

• 3 large garlic cloves
• Fresh cilantro
• 4 green onions
• ½ green bell pepper
• 1 cup onion
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Fresh tomatoes, preferably Roma or San Marzano
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups white rice, rinsed until the water runs clear
• Bouillon equivalent to 1 cube, such as Better Than Bouillon
• Water, using the amount recommended for your rice and multi-cooker
• 1½ teaspoons sazón seasoning *
• 1 can Black beans, drained and rinsed or 1 ¾ cup cooked black beans

*I prefer to make my own sazón seasoning since the grocery store version has MSG.

Make the Sofrito

Begin by pressing or finely mincing the garlic with the Garlic Press. Add it to the Electric Twist & Chop with the cilantro and green onions, then pulse briefly to break everything down.

Add the green pepper and onion. Continue pulsing until all the vegetables are very finely minced. Avoid blending them into a completely smooth purée—the mixture should retain a little texture.

This combination of aromatic vegetables forms the sofrito, which will become the flavor foundation for the entire dish.

Sauté the Vegetables

Set the Deluxe Multi-Cooker to its sear or sauté function. Add approximately one tablespoon of oil, followed by the sofrito.

Cook the vegetables for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and smell wonderfully fragrant.

Meanwhile, finely dice the tomatoes. You can do this with a knife or pulse them gently in a food chopper. Be careful not to process them too much; you want chopped tomatoes rather than tomato purée.

Add the tomatoes and kosher salt to the pot. Cook everything together for another couple of minutes.

Add the Rice, Beans, and Seasonings

Rinse the rice thoroughly before cooking. Place it in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse it under cold water, or rinse it in a bowl several times, pouring off the cloudy water after each rinse. The water should be mostly clear when the rice is ready.

Add the rinsed rice to the Deluxe Multi-Cooker along with the bouillon, water, sazón, and black beans. Stir gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Sazón is commonly used in Puerto Rican cooking and typically contains seasonings such as coriander, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. You can use a prepared packet or make your own blend at home. If you prefer to avoid MSG, check the label carefully or choose a homemade version.

Pressure-Cook the Rice

Secure the lid and make sure the silicone gasket is seated correctly.

Select the white-rice setting and cook under pressure for 4 minutes. Once the cooking cycle finishes, allow the pressure to release naturally for approximately 10 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure.

Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently, lifting the vegetables and beans through the grains.

Serving Ideas

Serve the black beans and rice with citrus-marinated pork for a meal inspired by Puerto Rican flavors. A simple salad of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers makes a bright, refreshing accompaniment.

The rice is also substantial enough to serve as a meatless main course. Try topping it with sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, or a spoonful of salsa.

Stovetop Option

You don’t need a multi-cooker to enjoy this recipe. Prepare the sofrito in a large pot on the stovetop, add the remaining ingredients, and cook the rice according to the package directions. Keep the pot covered and monitor the heat carefully so the rice doesn’t stick.

However you prepare it, this colorful black beans and rice dish is an easy way to keep family meals affordable, satisfying, and full of interesting flavor.